Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

First, there are assertions made by the shadow minister which are incorrect. I again say that the discussion between the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Israeli ambassador on my instruction did occur after a series of devastating strikes that caused major civilian casualties, including near refugee camps and aid facilities, and after an escalation in rhetoric and action between Israel and Hezbollah. The assertions that the shadow foreign minister has made about what was said in that meeting are not correct. Whilst others may wish to make these discussions public—that's a matter for them—we have not.

What I would say to you is that what we say in the room is the same as that which we say outside, and that is that we do not want to see the conflict spreading to other parts of the region, including Lebanon. If this conflict spreads through the region, it will be devastating for thousands and thousands and thousands of civilians in Israel and Lebanon, as well as in the West Bank and Gaza, and for the thousands of Australians who are in Lebanon and in the region.

The senator and his party may think that it is a responsible thing to do to champion more conflict. We do not think so. We think the responsible thing to do is to champion peace. The other point I would make is that I and the others on this side act and speak on behalf of Australia and not for any other country. Australians, as I said, want peace, not more conflict and not more civilian deaths. What we see in this debate—and it has been going on for a while—is a desire from the Greens and from Senator Henderson and others on that side for absolutism. That's what they want: absolutism. And absolutism in politics and in conflict leads to more conflict. We want—